Why we can't remember things prior to the age of four

Scientists say that most people remember little or nothing about what happened in their lives prior to the age of three or four. I recently discussed this interesting wrinkle in neurobiology with Scott Paulson, my co-host on ScienceTalk, the podcast we produced at wsRadio.com. We were joined by Mary Kenny, an Indiana University journalism student who is interning with the Union-Tribune this summer. Mary is 20. Scott is 52. and Gary is 55. The show transcript has been edited for clarity and continuity.

ROBBINS: I have a very distinct memory of my parents bringing my younger sister home from the hospital shortly after she was born. It happened in November 1960, which means I would’ve been five years old. That is the oldest, distinct memory that I have. Apparently, that’s not unusual ... Scott, is that also your experience?

PAULSON: I can remember things from four, maybe some things from three, but, yeah, going back from that…

PAULSON: Well, I remember being at the New York World’s Fair, and I wasn’t five yet. And I also have some early childhood memories of interactions with my sister and mother, and I also remember a lot of my first time things. I remember my first nightmare, and I think I was only three and I didn’t understand what was real and what wasn’t. And I remember the first time I had orange sherbet. That was at the World’s Fair! And, mostly it’s first time things that I can recall.

ROBBINS: Well, do you recall them clearly? Is there much detail?

PAULSON: Yeah, there is a lot of detail, but only because it was such a big event. I have vague memories of certain pets, certain animals, and certain sounds. Like I remember the first time I heard a real cuckoo bird. And I can remember the first time I saw the Alps. We got off a train, and I couldn’t have been more than three, and I was speechless.

ROBBINS: Well,that makes you a little bit unusual, compared to others. Mary, what about you?

KENNEY: My first memory was at four. And I remember I was in a house, and I have no other memories of this house, apart from what my mom’s told me, that we lived there once. I was sitting on a couch, and the couch was very, very uncomfortable. It was scratchy, it was a terrible couch. And I remember sitting there, and my eyes were closed because my mom told me she had a surprise for me. And as I’m sitting there, suddenly there’s something warm and soft in my lap, and I opened my eyes and there’s a kitten. And this cat lived to be so old, she lived until after I graduated from high school. So my first memory is getting this kitten. I named her Cindy that day. I have no idea why I named her Cindy, I think it’s a dumb name now. Yeah, that’s my first memory. I was four years old.